Our work

Digital citizenship for health

Empowering people to critically engage with digital ecosystems

Digital citizenship for health extends the notions of citizenship and digital citizenship to the health domain. The digital ecosystem offers new spaces for health promotion and civic participation. However, equitable health benefits can only be realized when people are able to critically engage with digital platforms, have access to safe online spaces and trustworthy health information, and make informed choices in respect to their data. Countries must invest in young people’s combined digital, health and civic literacy and skills so they can safely navigate the digital world and participate in decision-making processes that impact their lives.

DTH-Lab is working with young people, academics and policymakers around the world to promote the importance of digital citizenship for health. We are engaging with organizations like the Council of Europe to ensure that digital citizenship initiatives support young people to maximize the health benefits of digitalization and protect them from digital harms. We are mapping existing resources for digital, health and civic literacy and facilitating the co-creation of a digital citizenship for health platform with young people.

What resources and initiatives exist to enhance young people’s digital, health and civic literacy and skills?

Main research questions

What information and tools do young people, including young health professionals, need to become empowered digital citizens for health?
How can we more effectively monitor and evaluate meaningful youth empowerment, both in governance processes and DTH-Lab’s work?

Resources

News & insights
September 23, 2025
Youth and digital gaps threaten success of UN declaration on NCDs and mental health
Publication
May 27, 2025
Digital citizenship for health: Overcoming challenges for youth
Publication
May 12, 2025
Shaping digital health futures - Annual Review 2024
News & insights
May 6, 2025
DTH-Lab joins Global Initiative on Digital Health

Other work

Digital first 
health systems
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Digital and data governance
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Digital determinants 
of health
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